[14v6]

I wonder how are they gonna mix their boxer engine with the Toyota hybrid system. The CX-50 makes sense because it’s a transverse inline 4 already. How is that gonna work on a longitudinally mounted boxer 4?

I assume they'll just drop the whole Toyota setup in there. I never knew about Subie getting this until yesterday. I think the CX-50 is worth it for the hood struts alone.

 

[Passport Fan]

If the new one looks like a downgrade, and they continue that way, I will flip to a 4Runner next time. 4x4, and looks much more aggressive, plus several aftermarket parts unlike the Passport's.

The new Four Runners are having trans issues like the Tacoma's. They share the same drivetrain.

 

[jasonpp]

I assume they'll just drop the whole Toyota setup in there. I never knew about Subie getting this until yesterday. I think the CX-50 is worth it for the hood struts alone.

I wonder how that is going to be possible since subaru has very different platform tha toyota.

 

[zroger73]

What's old is new again.

Lots of folks might confuse the new Passport with a 25 year-old Escape.

 

[23Elite]

I know I'm confused. 🤨🙄

 

[Sweetness2022]

I think this thing looks Great! I am personally more of a 99.9% on pavement driver with occasional dirt, gravel, and rutty driveway a few times a month at most. Clearly Honda has a ton of research pointing to marketing towards the off road crowd and I can appreciate that, it must be a big selling point! I have seen a few people mention in previous months wanting something like an Elite / Trailsport combo Trim, that would be pretty sick!


It will be interesting to see how they price this thing!

 

[Flume23P]

They never do show it going further past this point. That is what I want to see. Also, just how sturdy are those side skirts? The fact that they offer refacing plates for them tells me they are thinner and is giving me skeptical thoughts.

Some of us are/have been upgrading in off road capabilities that come close or exceed the 26's skills. Of course, we are lacking that camera/Infotainment system, but other companies make similar tech packages you can install.

For true off-roaders/overlanders, most put a full size spare (or two) on the outside somewhere. I've seen two on the roof, on the hitch, on the camper/trailer they are pulling. The roof won't be an option for me as I plan to get a roof top tent. Thus, the hitch will be utilized for the full size spare.

I am still intrigued by the wheels. Love how they tucked the valve stem in. The scuff resistant finish is adequate.

 

[mall_crawler_2023]

What's old is new again.

Lots of folks might confuse the new Passport with a 25 year-old Escape.

View attachment 22288

😂😂😂 I can never unsee this

 

[Petrol]

Driven my buddy's 4Runner recently, I do not miss the ride and handling quality of my FJ at all. Passport is much more fun to drive. 4Runner feels like steering a waterbed and the transmission made of boulders that don't want to move. And having to manually switching between 2WD and 4WD, I DO NOT miss that at all!!!

. . . and the interior of the 4Runner is tiny

 

[Petrol]

This is exactly why I bought a Passport, I would take an AWD over a 4x4 any day for on road snow driving, and Honda makes one of the best with their IVTM-4 & SH-AWD.
But we still need decent ground clearance for those big powder days!!

Deep"ish Powder doesn't scare me; it's the deep:ish packing snow, those huge crusty frozen ruts and slush clods that form and then fall off the fenders of other vehicles that I want some useful ground clearance for.

 

[Flume23P]

😂😂😂 I can never unsee this

 

[jasonpp]

What's old is new again.

Lots of folks might confuse the new Passport with a 25 year-old Escape.

View attachment 22288

Kinda funny how SUV styling is mostly cyclical. Boxy, round, boxy, round, boxy again.

 

[PPTS11]

The old radiator was on the ground. They hit something that curved the bottom of it and put a hole in it. They tried to seal it with an egg, but that did not work. They replaced it with a random radiator that was not cooling as good. At least they finished the race. Yes, a skid plate would have prevented the damage, but this might just be driver error.

I keep hearing, "it needs 10 inches of clearance," "it needs skid plates," "it needs lockers," "it needs bigger tires." It that is what you want, get a Jeep or 4Runner. I do not want a Jeep or 4Runner. I don't want something that rides rough, makes a lot of noise, is so heavy from the plates and 4-wheel drive equipment that it gets terrible gas mileage. You can't make a vehicle that does both. It is impossible.

When I watch reviews of the current Passport, they complain, "it needs more ground clearance" and all those things, but if Honda did that, they would complain, "it rides rough and gets terrible gas mileage." I guess they just have to find something to complain about.

I don't want skid plates and 4-wheel drive equipment. I don't need them, and they just hurt the gas mileage. I want it tall enough that I can go over a curb. I want it to ride smooth and quite on the road where it will be 99.999% of the time. If I need to leave someone's house and have to drive through the yard and small front ditch or over the curb, I want that ability. I want plenty of room inside without a frame taking up four or five inches on cabin height. I want a more manly squared off look that the new one has over the old one. I want the Elite or Black Edition of the 2026, and I don't want a Jeep!

I want the rear glass to lift up like the Toyota Land Cruiser. I want the larger screen of the Honda Accord. I want Honda to explain why they got rid of the large tailpipes that looked so good. None of these things will prevent me from buying one. This will fit my needs (quiet, smooth, lots of space, pull trailer, go over curbs).

I like the fact that they changed to newer DOHC engine as well

 

[Flume23P]

Judging fro the videos, it's looking real capable off-road but Honda seems to have kept the street spec ground clearance...as expected. OEM rock sliders is very thoughtful though.

Might have to get some similar rock sliders fabricated for ours. Have a friend out in Bend, OR who did that for a Tacoma. Said much cheaper than getting TRD ones, or other aftermarket ones.

 

[Flume23P]

What is weird that Honda already has a good plug in hybrid platform the new hybrid Civic and CR-V since the transmission in them are exactly what is being used in the plug in hybrid cars (engine driving generator and electric motor driving the wheels). Why won’t Honda offer a bigger capacity battery with an onboard charger on these models. Missing such a big market seems like. Just doesn’t make sense why Honda always spend so much money on something to just miss the opportunity for better selling points.
The new Pilot/Passport new V6 only making 5hp more.
The new MDX/TLX Type S only making 355hp instead of 400hp.

I concur. To add to this, will this new powertrain offer better mpg? Seemingly so, that could be one of the few selling points of a higher price tag. Not enough to sway me from my '23. Would love to get mine done soon and compare it on the same trail.

 

[BlackCarsOnly]

I like the fact that they changed to newer DOHC engine as well

I mean....so far so good. It's just with the 2 recent recalls (steering and fuel pressure pump; although not for us, thank god), I'd like to see it on the market for a few years myself.

 

[Type34]

https://www.caranddriver.com/honda/passport

Some of the latest shots in the link above (as @Flume23P has above)...the rear 3/4 angle is better than I thought. I like the tapered upper portion of the rear hatch.

 

[jasonpp]

I concur. To add to this, will this new powertrain offer better mpg? Seemingly so, that could be one of the few selling points of a higher price tag. Not enough to sway me from my '23. Would love to get mine done soon and compare it on the same trail.

Better MPG? Not so much. It’s more for emission compliance as well as moving back to an in house transmission.

 

[Passport Fan]

The old radiator was on the ground. They hit something that curved the bottom of it and put a hole in it. They tried to seal it with an egg, but that did not work. They replaced it with a random radiator that was not cooling as good. At least they finished the race. Yes, a skid plate would have prevented the damage, but this might just be driver error.

I keep hearing, "it needs 10 inches of clearance," "it needs skid plates," "it needs lockers," "it needs bigger tires." It that is what you want, get a Jeep or 4Runner. I do not want a Jeep or 4Runner. I don't want something that rides rough, makes a lot of noise, is so heavy from the plates and 4-wheel drive equipment that it gets terrible gas mileage. You can't make a vehicle that does both. It is impossible.

When I watch reviews of the current Passport, they complain, "it needs more ground clearance" and all those things, but if Honda did that, they would complain, "it rides rough and gets terrible gas mileage." I guess they just have to find something to complain about.

I don't want skid plates and 4-wheel drive equipment. I don't need them, and they just hurt the gas mileage. I want it tall enough that I can go over a curb. I want it to ride smooth and quite on the road where it will be 99.999% of the time. If I need to leave someone's house and have to drive through the yard and small front ditch or over the curb, I want that ability. I want plenty of room inside without a frame taking up four or five inches on cabin height. I want a more manly squared off look that the new one has over the old one. I want the Elite or Black Edition of the 2026, and I don't want a Jeep!

I want the rear glass to lift up like the Toyota Land Cruiser. I want the larger screen of the Honda Accord. I want Honda to explain why they got rid of the large tailpipes that looked so good. None of these things will prevent me from buying one. This will fit my needs (quiet, smooth, lots of space, pull trailer, go over curbs).

The one thing I really don't care for is the motorized tailgate on my EXL. It's slow and I really prefer the cheap struts on my 2005. $38/pair instead of who knows what with the motorized setup.

 

[Passport Fan]

From what I gather, there will be small changes in an aesthetic way on the exterior. Same with the interior. Afterall, we (99.9%) won't be wearing helmets and using 5 point harnesses. The feedback Honda gets and actually uses to their advantage from this event, is something I will not hold my breath on.

With Honda being known as a practical company, I feel that a 10" clearance isn't likely. Unless they exclusively use it for the Trailsport, I see it remaining as the factory height currently.

Even then, would the changes apply across the entire Trailsport lineup, with the Pilot and Ridgeline? It would be nice to see both of those with a higher clearance in that trim. Highly doubtful though.

For now, I will continue with the mods on my '23.

Well, a friend has the new off road version of the Forester and once he stores his gear, a friend and a couple of kayaks on it, the ground clearance is not that swift along with the 4 mpg cut in mpg.